Can cleaner



R. F. D! lLlO Aug. 9. 1966 CAN CLEANER Filed Aug. 24, 1965 nmm NM mm Mn INVENTOR.

occo F. DiIlio BY P ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,264,675 CAN CLEANER Rocco F. Di Ilio, 708 Worthington Drive, Warminster, Pa. Filed Aug. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 482,218 11 Claims. (Cl. 15-504) This invention relates to an apparatus for the cleaning and flushing of cans and like containers. More particularly, it relates to a portable can cleaner. More particularly, it relates to a portable can cleaner having variout cleaning heads and means for quick and convenient change of these heads, whereby containers of different size and contour may be serviced.

It is an object to have this invention provide a can cleaner.

It is an object of this invention to provide a portable apparatus for heating and maintaining a cleaning liquid, including apparatus to spray said liquid, quickly disconnectable heads, and means for aifixing said heads.

Other aims and objects of this invention are made ap parent in the specification and claims.

There have been earlier expedients known to clean cans and similar containers. The present invention however is an improvement over these earlier known devices, in part because it has a greater degree of flexibility of operation. None of the known earlier expedients have the range of functions that are inherent in the presently disclosed structure. The present invention is completely portable, and it may conveniently and easily be used to effectively clean a large number of different sizes and types of containers, at the same time relying on a minimum of complexity in its own structure.

The invention is best understood in connection with the accompanying drawing in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the can cleaner,

FIGURE 2 is a side view thereof, partly fragmented and partly in cross-section,

FIGURE 3 is front view thereof, partly fragmented and partly in cross-section,

FIGURE 4 is a side view of a cleaning head and its mounting structure, and

FIGURE 5 is a side view of another head.

The can cleaner generally designated may be best broadly understood in connection with FIGURE 2. It comprises a large tank 20 which is generally circular in horizontal cross-section, and open at the top. The tank 20 rests on baseplate 12. Baseplate 12 forms the bottom of the tank and also is extended beyond the limits of the tank for other purposes described below. A push handle 27 is provided. It is preferably a U-shaped structure conveniently made of steel piping, with the legs of the U bent as shown to form an obtuse angle. The vertical part of the push handle legs fit removably into a plurality of brackets 27a on the side of the tank. A wire hanger 27b is provided on the push handle 27 so that the required electrical cable may be hung thereon to keep it out of the way. The push handle 27 may be lifted out of its brackets 27a to make the entire can cleaner 10 more compact for storage. It may be re-inserted in the brackets with the angled extension from the vertical portion thereof facing in the opposite direction, that is, over the top of the tank 20, to make the unit more compact for storage.

A splash guard 25 is provided. The splash guard is a vertical extension above the top rim of tank 20. It is essentially a segment of a cylinder of the same diameter as that of tank 20, and it extends upwardly from the upper edge of tank 20 for approximately one third of the circumference thereof. It is positioned on that part of the tank closest to the handle, the motor, and the operator. The splash guard 25 is removably affixed to the tank by 'ice means of a plurality of lugs 25a which extend outwardly I and downwardly from the guard and hook over the outcorners are preferably rounded as shown.

side of the tank 20. The splash guard thus extends upward from the inside wall of tank 20, as best seen in FIGURES l and 2, and therefore, the circumference of the circle of which the splash guard 25 is a segment is nominally slightly smaller than that of the tank itself. The splash guard can of course be removed for more compact storage.

A mop well 19 is hung on tank 20 by means of well hanger 19a. This mop well 19 is preferably a small cylindrical open top container in which a hand mop, or alternate brushes, nozzles, brush heads, or other items may be stored. The mop well 19 is also removable from the tank.

The can cleaner is made portable by means of a pair of rigid casters 14 and a swiveling caster 15: The term rigid as applied here means non-swiveling, although of course the wheels of casters 14 are free to turn. As shown, the rigid casters are to the rear and the single swiveling caster is forward, which is preferable, although the front and rear locations could be reversed. This arrangement of casters provides a high degree of mobility. The unit can be turned in place. The casters 14 and 15 are affixed to bottom of baseplate 12.

As best shown in FIGURE 1, the baseplate 12 extends rearwardly from the tank 20, the extension having a generally rectangular outer configuration, although the At the rear edge of this baseplate, and extending downwardly therefrom, a tilt-step 16 is provided. This tilt-step 16 is a generally U-shaped bracket, whose configuration is shown best in FIGURE 3. The operator, by stepping on tiltstep 16, may tilt the can cleaner 12 rearwardly around r casters 14 as a pivot point so that the unit tilts backwards.

This tilt-step 16 is useful as a mobility controlling device, but is particularly useful to insure complete drainage of the tank through the drain, as is described below.

An electric motor 33 is provided on the extended portion of baseplate 12. This motor is preferably closecoupled to a pump 32. Pump 32 may preferably and conveniently be a centrifugal pump. Motor 33 is connected by means of line 330 to a junction box 50. The junc tion box in turn is connected to a main line 52 which is provided with a standard plug 53 at the end thereof. Electricity for operating the entire unit is provided through main line 52.

A foot control 33a is connected to junction box 50 through line 33b. The foot control 33a is connected so that current to operate electric motor 33 is provided through the motor line 330 only when foot control 33a is depressed. The foot control has a spring return, so that the possibility of accidental or undesired continued spraying is reduced.

A immersion heater of the electrical resistance sealed type 38 is provided. As best shown in FIGURE 1, this immersion heater extends into the interior of tank 20 through the wall thereof. It is connected to the junction box 50 by means of heater line 38a. The immersion heater 38 is operative as long as plug 53 is connected to the power supply, and is not interrupted or controlled by foot control 33a.

The bottom of the tank is provided with a drain 39, which includes a drain pipe 39a extending from a hole r' through baseplate 12 near the rear of tank 20, and a valve 3%. The water in tank 20 may be drained by opening valve 39b. To insure that all the water 30 is drained, the tank may be tilted toward drain 39 by the operator pressing on tilt-step 16 has has been described. Conveniently, the tank is emptied by positioning drain 39 over a floor drain, although it can be connected to 'a hose line for remote disposal. A

Pump 32 is provided with an inlet 31. Inlet 31 eX- tends into the interior of tank 20 through the wall thereof. The pump 33 is provided with an outlet 35 which extends into the interior of tank 20 through the wall thereof. The outlet 35 is connected to a vertical riser 36 which is centrally locatedin the tank. Riser 36 includes a stanchion 36a and a riser base 3617 which rests on the base-- plate 12. It extends upwardly including a fixed pipe 360, 1

which terminates at its upper end in the fixed half of a quick-disconnect pipe coupling 37. This fixed coupling means 37 is above the level'of screen 22. As a practical matter, the vertical riser may preferably consist of a T into which outlet 35 is threaded, and the stanchion 36a may be a section of pipe terminating in a flange or collar which forms riser base 36b.j The pipe'forming stanchion 36a is threaded into the T. The-fixed pipe 36c is threaded into the remaining arm of the'T.

The screen 22 is a generally circular sheet provided with a plurality of holes 22a. A pair of screen handles 23. are provided on the upper'surface of screen 22 .to facilitate its removal. The screen has a central opening to accommodate the fixed pipe 23, and when that portion of: the structure above fixed coupling 37 is removed, as is described below, it is apparent that screen 22 may be vertically raised or lowered freely. It rests at the'proper height within the tank, below the upper edge thereof, on a plurality of screen support lugs 21.

A removable spray head 40a is provided. This spray head has a vertical section which terminates at its lower end in the movable half of a quick-disconnect pipe coupling 42', which maybe also described as a movable coupling means. A spray head lock 45 extends from the vertical section of the spray head 40a, above the coupling means 42. The lock 45 extends horizontally outward.and

then vertically downward to a point below the coupling 42. As best shown in FIGURE 2, the lock 45 is an extension of such length so that when the coupling halves 42 and 37 are'joined in coacting relationship, the lock 45. extends below the level of screen 22. A hole is provided in screen 22 to receive the lock 45.

As can be seen in the drawings, the structure of the piping in spray head 40a and in spray head lock 45 can conveniently be provided by an assembly of ordinary metal piping and various pipe couplings and elbows as required. The structure is not of courselimited to such components, but is merely suggested as economic and minates in a brush 44. Brush 44 may conveniently have a vertical face of bristles and a horizontal face of bristles. The water is sprayed out through these bristles preferably through a plurality of holes in the base of the brush Zin'to which the bristles are set. The resulting spray of water 30 is shown by the arrows extending from brush 44 in FIG- URE 2.

The, coupling formed by the fixed and movable halves rotation of the spray head and the brush when a can or other container is placed over it and'in contact with it. It is apparent that when a can is placed in close contact with a brush, and the brush is utilized by rotating the can,

that there is a torque applied to the'spray head which I tends to rotate it.

FIGURE 4 shows an alternate form of removable spray head 40b; The movable coupling means 42 and the spray head lock .45 are structurally the same as that described in preferred. The pipe of the spray head 400 then bends 1 away from the vertical to form an obtuse angle, and ter-' 4 f connection with spray head 40a. The difference between this embodiment and the one :first described is that spray head 49b isprovided with a T which separates the stream of water intotwo pipes,'each terminatingain a brush 44,

as shown.

FIGURE 5 shows. :another alternateinterchangeable spray head 400 provided with the'same removablecoupling.

means as has been described. Instead of abrush this alternate spray head is provided with a sponge46c having a contour as shown in FIGURE 5,:and at the upper end of a straight verticahpipe section. This alternate form of Because; of the small, light nature of the containers to be cleaned head is suitable for cleaning smallicontainers.

with this typecf head, it is" notabsolutely necessary to provide the .head lock '45 although of course this. lock be washed. One of the advantages; of:the present inven-. tion is that the type and configuration-of spray head 'can be quickly and easily changed so that the unit has great flexibility in cleaning: all types of containers.

The term container as used herein includes for example such unitsas wastepaper baskets, trash cans, Wall and floor 1 stands, cigarette and cigar butt'catchers, towel disposal containers, 61. cans, :oil drums, garbage cans, sanitary napkin disposal receptacles, and interliner containers. .The can cleaner may desirably be used'in such institutions as hospitals, schools; manufacturing buildings, and. may sanitize,'deodorize, scrub clean, and rust inhibit containers;

A convenient size for tank 20 is approximately 35 gal lons. The water 30is preferably heated toapproxirnately degrees F5, and has added to it non-foaming detergent, disinfectant, and rust; inhibitor.; A seven foot'three conductor safety type cable can be used for foot control line 33b. Athirty-five foot service three conductor cable with a ground line may be used for mainline ,52. The immersion heating element keeps the water solution 30 hot to speed the drying ofthe cans and improve the cleaning and sanitizing function. statically controlled.

The mop well 19 may be used to contain a cleaning implement suitable for cleaning the outside of cans, as well as starting alternate heads.

In addition to utilizing the drain as. described, it is pos- The heater :may be thermosible to provide another alternate fitting equipped with a,

quick-disconnect coupler 42 as has been described, but intended to connectto a drain line. With such a fitting, it is possible to utilize the pump 32 to drain, or at least par-. tially drain, the; tank 20. I

The swiveling caster-15 may be provided with a lock and preferably be ball-bearing equipped.

The structure of the can cleaner issuch that it may also be used totranspor-t liquids of various types, and can be used for other cleaning purposes, suchas degreasing. It can be used asa portable pump to pump out sumps or other reservoirs, In operation, the can is placed .over the spray head an the .foot control 33 is: operated. The pump then directs a stream of water into the interior of the can. The water drops back into the tank, passing through the screen which removes large solids. Thenumber of holes in the screen may preferably be greater than :that'shown in FIGURE 1,,

I claim:

1. A can cleaner comprising a baseplate on wheels, an open top tank on said baseplate, a motor and pump on said baseplate, a vertical riser in said tank, said pump having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being connected to said vertical riser, said inlet extending into said tank, a removable screen over said tank, a hole in said screen to accommodate said vertical riser, said vertical riser passing through said hole, a fixed quick-disconnect coupling means on the upper end or said vertical riser, above said screen, and adapted to receive a spray head having a spray head lock and a spray head lock hole in said screen to accommodate a spray head lock.

2. A can cleaner as set forth in claim 1 wherein a spray head is removably affixed to said vertical riser, said spray head including a vertical pipe section having a movable quick-disconnect coupling at the lower end thereof, said movable quick-disconnect coupling coacting and coupling with said fixed quick-disconnect coupling.

3. A can cleaner as set forth in claim 2 wherein a spray head lock extends from said vertical section of said spray head, said spray head lock extending outwardly from said spray head lock and downwardly to a level below that of said coupling and below the level of said screen, extending into said spray head lock hole in said screen.

4. A can cleaner as set forth in claim 3 wherein said spray head is provided with a plurality of brushes, each brush having a pipe thereto from said vertical section of said spray head.

5. A can cleaner as set forth in claim 2 wherein said ray head has only a vertical pipe section and has a sponge at the upper end thereof.

6. A can cleaner as set forth in claim 2 wherein a drain and drain valve are provided through said baseplate into said tank, near said pump and motor, and a tilt-step is provided under said baseplate near said pump and motor, whereby by depressing said tilt-step, said tank is tilted toward said drain.

7. A can cleaner as set forth in claim 6 wherein an electric immersion heater is provided in said tank.

8. A can cleaner as set forth in claim 7 wherein a foot control is provided, said foot control being operatively connected to said motor to start said motor and said pump when said foot control is depressed, but said immersion heater being independent 01: said foot control.

9. A can cleaner as set forth in claim 8 wherein a removable splash guard is provided above said tank near said electric motor and a removable push handle is aflixed to said tank by brackets, near said electric motor.

10. A can cleaner as set forth in claim 9 wherein a mop well is provided, said mop well having a well hanger removab ly fitting over the top of said tank.

11. A spray head, comprising a vertical pipe section, at least one brush connected by a pipe to the top of said vertical pipe section, said pipe opening through said brush, the lower end of said vertical pipe section being provided with a movable quick-disconnect coupling means, and a spray head look extending from said Wertioal section to lock said spray head against rotation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,292,435 8/1942 Crites 15-321 2,646,585 7/1953 Whittington 15--74 2,764,171 9/1956 Nolte 134-145 2,932,844 4/ 1 960 vOConnor 15321 3,104,407 9/1963 Volk l5-7l References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,587,386 6/1926 Lewis.

2,418,063 3/1947 Alling et al.

2,629,885 3/ 1953 Taylor.

2,653,420 9/ 1953 Ruth.

2,746,465 5/ 1956 Farison.

2,764,171 9/ 1-95 6 Nolte.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

E. L. ROBERTS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CAN CLEANER COMPRISING A BASEPLATE ON WHEELS, AN OPEN TOP TANK ON SAID BASEPLATE, A MOTOR AND PUMP ON SAID BASEPLATE, A VERTICAL RISER IN SAID TANK, SAID PUMP HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET, SAID OUTLET BEING CONNECTED TO SAID VERTICAL RISER, SAID INLET EXTENDING INTO SAID TANK, A REMOVABLE SCREEN OVER SAID TANK, A HOLE IN SAID SCREEN TO ACCOMMODATE SAID VERTICAL RISER, SAID VERTICAL RISER PASSING THROUGH SAID HOLE, A FIXED QUICK-DISCONNECTED COUPLING MEANS ON THE UPPER END OF SAID VERTICAL RISER, ABOVE SAID SCREEN, AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A SPRAY HEAD HAVING A SPRAY HEAD LOCK A SPRAY HEAD LOCK HOLE IN SAID SCREEN TO ACCOMMODATE A SPRAY HEAD LOCK. 